Celebrating St. Patrick's Day is a great tradition and an excellent excuse to party in the middle of March. Even those without a drop of Irish blood can be Irish for a day!
Really, forget the green beer. If you want to drink beer like the Irish a pint of Guinness will do. If that's too bold for you, you might try one these cocktails and shooters to toast to the Irish. Many of the drinks are green thanks to liqueurs like crème de menthe or Midori while others feature the best spirits of Ireland.
Erin Go Braugh!
Jameson and Ginger
Photo Courtesy of: © Jameson Irish Whiskey
Simple and timely, this drink takes the Irish side of the classic Whiskey Highball. The twist of using Jameson instead of a rye, bourbon or Canadian whiskey is nice and very simple.
Leprechaun
The Leprechaun may be my favorite drink in this list. I don't know if it's very lucky and it hasn't led me to any pot of gold yet, but for an Irish twist on the Gin and Tonic, it's ideal for any occasion.Shamrock Shaker
Photo Credit: © www.cocktailtimes.com
Shamrock Smoothie
Photo Credit: © SKYY Spirits
Get a little fruity on St. Patrick's Day with this melon-flavored vodka cocktail that simulates a Margarita. For an extra touch rim the glass with green salt or sugar and garnish with a lime wheel cut with a shamrock cookie cutter that floats on the top.
Irish Car Bomb (shooter)
Who needs a Jager Bomb when the Irish Car Bomb is entirely filled with Irish spirits? This popular shot is great for a group of friends who want a challenge and have a ride home for the night. The strong shot is filled with Guinness, Irish cream and Irish whiskey, not a bad mix but a powerful one.Irish Coffee Drop (shooter)
Photo Courtesy of: © Van Gogh Vodka
The Irish Coffee Drop is a play off of the Irish Car Bomb that replaces your favorite Irish whiskey with Van Gogh's Double Espresso Vodka. This lucky libation is little lighter on taste, yet while the coffee flavor is delightful it does add an espresso punch.
Irish Flag (shooter)
The spirit of Ireland comes to life with this shooter that simulates the Irish flag. It is not the best tasting shooter as the flavors of orange, mint and chocolate are a mixture that can take some getting used to but, as far as shooters go, it is much friendlier than most.Irish Frog (shooter)
This is a tasty little shooter that has a clear green bottom (the "Frog" via Midori) covered with a rich Irish cream. It's one of the gentler shots and the jade color is fitting for St. Patrick's Day parties.Nutty Irishman (shooter)
The Nutty Irishman is a smooth shot perfect for your St. Patrick's Day bash. Use your favorite Irish cream liqueur like Bailey's, McGuire's, Carolan's or St. Brendan's and a hazelnut liqueur such as Frangelico. This recipe also makes a good sipper when served on the rocks, making sure to keep the liqueur ratio at 1:1.Shamrocked (shooter)
Photo Courtesy of: © Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey
Take the green of Midori, a smooth Irish whiskey and a luscious Irish cream liqueur, shake it together and you've been Shamrocked. This delightful shooter is ideal for anyone who, even those that don't typically drink shots, because it's light, tasty and green.
